Two AMP-binding domain proteins from Rhizophagus irregularis involved in import of exogenous fatty acids.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize roots where they provide nutrients in exchange for sugars and lipids. Because AMF lack genes for cytosolic fatty acid de novo synthase (FAS), they depend on host-derived fatty acids. AMF colonization is accompanied with expression of specific lipid genes and synthesis of sn-2 monoacylglycerols (MAGs). It is unknown how host-derived fatty acids are taken up by AMF. We describe the characterization of two AMP-binding domain proteins, RiFAT1 and RiFAT2 from Rhizophagus irregularis with sequence similarity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fatty Acid Transporter 1 (FAT1). Uptake of 13C-myristic acid (14:0) and to a lesser extent 13C-palmitic acid (16:0) was enhanced after expression of RiFAT1 or RiFAT2 in S. cerevisiae Δfat1 cells. The uptake of 2H-labeled fatty acids from 2H-myristoylglycerol or 2H-palmitoylglycerol was also increased after RiFAT1 and RiFAT2 expression in Δfat, but intact 2H-MAGs were not detected. RiFAT1 and RiFAT2 expression was induced in colonized roots compared with extraradical mycelium. 13C-label in the AMF-specific palmitvaccenic acid (16:1Δ11) and eicosatrienoic acid (20:3) were detected in colonized roots only when 13C2-acetate was supplemented, but not 13C-fatty acids, demonstrating that de novo synthesized, host-derived fatty acids are rapidly taken up by R. irregularis from the roots. The results show that RiFAT1 and RiFAT2 are involved in the uptake of myristic acid (14:0) and palmitic acid (16:0), while fatty acids from MAGs are only taken up after hydrolysis. Therefore, the two proteins might be involved in fatty acid import into the fungal arbuscules in colonized roots.